The Reason FIFA and Sepp Blatter Will Never Introduce Video Technology

“There is no such thing as bad publicity” and FIFA is reaping the benefits of negative publicity.

After the Frank Lampard none-goal fiasco in the World Cup last 16 tie between England and Germany, the great football debate regarding the lack of technology was re-ignited.

Many may see this debate as a negative for FIFA and their product, but it is, in fact, the complete opposite.

The controversy that arose from that event brought so much attention to the World Cup—as well as FIFA—that it surpassed any publicity event that FIFA could have drafted up for the World Cup.

Fans and spectators love to have something to discuss and debate, and there is no greater catalyst for discussion than injustice and error.

All the good press and planned publicity could not generate the same level of interest in the World Cup that one dramatic call - or no call - brought to the tournament.

The reason FIFA will never introduce significant technology into the sport is based on one simple word: Controversy.

Controversy feeds curiosity, which in turn helps boost revenue.

People wanted to see what would happen next in the World Cup in light of the terrible refereeing decisions that occurred in the previous rounds.

Despite the US men’s national team being eliminated, the World Cup remained the most watched television event on Saturday, July 3rd in America.

Over three million households watched the quarterfinal encounter between Argentina and Germany. That is more than double the figure that tuned into the Men’s Wimbledon Final.

It is also a million more than the number of households that tuned in to watch the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona.

The Argentina versus Germany game attracted an increase of 17 percent compared to the coverage of the England vs. Portugal quarterfinal game from the 2006 World Cup.

The recent semifinal clash between Germany and Spain broke the record for number of viewers for a primetime telecast in Germany.

Over 31 million households watched the game in Germany, which is over four million more viewers compared to the number of households that tuned in to watch the 2002 World Cup Final between Germany and Brazil.

Not only do dramatic events of this magnitude increase viewership and revenue for FIFA and the World Cup, it also insures that the tournament becomes infamous and unforgettable.

The Lampard none-goal will become a part of World Cup history, just like Maradona’s “Hand of God” from World Cup ’86 and Geoff Hurst’s “Goal That Never Was” from World Cup ’66.

The power to control is another reason why FIFA and Sepp Blatter will never embrace, or introduce video technology in football.

“Absolute power corrupts absolutely” and FIFA is absolutely corrupt.

There are numerous examples of FIFA’s corruption, but a look at an example from the past year will suffice.

In the same year that UEFA un-seed the qualifying round of the Champions League—in the interest of fair play—FIFA decide to seed the UEFA Second Stage World Cup Qualification Playoff.

Is this a coincidence? I think not.

There was a major possibility that France, Russia, or Portugal could meet in the playoff, which was a scenario that FIFA could not comprehend, or allow.

Russia, France, and Portugal have populations of 142 million, 63.6 million and 11.3 million respectively.

Ireland, Slovenia, and Bosnia have a combined population of 10 million people. It is not hard to see how revenues would have been greatly effective if FIFA did not step in and implement some sort of strategy.

To bring this point a step further—when Ireland traveled to Paris to take on France, a Swedish referee by the name of Martin Hansson was handed the duty of officiating.

The manner in which France won the game in extra-time and qualified has been spoken to death. The infamous Thierry Henry “Helping Hand” sealed Ireland’s fate.

Martin Hansson’s punishment for failing to spot the incident was severe. He was forced to pack his bags and travel to South Africa as part of the officiating crew that would take charge of the biggest tournament in world football.

Sepp Blatter really came down hard on the Swede.

Technology will never come to fruition in football once Sepp Blatter sits on his throne as FIFA president.

Human error not only makes his organization money, but it is the perfect scapegoat.